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Advice on a butterfly and bird garden?

I have a raised bed, octagon shaped planterbox. It's maybe 6 inches tall. The diameter (roughly) is 7 feet. I'd like to put in a birdbath and some bird feeders on poles or sheperds hooks. This would all be waist or eye level. I'd like to also do a butterfly garden for the lower level stuff. Any advice on what to plant to attact birds and butterflies and let them coexist? The spot gets morning through mid afternoon full sun. Probably 6 good hours uninterrupted. I live in MN. Thanks!

Public Comments

1. Many flowers that attract butterflies will also attract humming birds. I am doing the same thing in my garden and the seeds I bought were: foxglove, zinnia (two types), lupine, and nasturtium (two types). For more info check here: http://www.thegardenhelper.com/hummingflower.html
2. You should put a butterfly bush in. Also if you want butterflies, put in dill, finnel, and parcely. this will attract the black swallowtail butterfly. They will lay eggs and then they will soon transform into butterflies. The butterflies will always come back to that same spot because it is their instinct. Also add a milkweed plant. This plant attracts monarch butterflies. They too will always come back. For the birds I recommend putting up bird suet feeders. Birds LOVE these. You can find the fedders and suet cakes at a hardware store or garden center and they are VERY cheap. I hope I helped! Good luck with your garden!